Hello and welcome back to the Reliable Source web chat. Joining us today is the clever and capable Emily Yahr, whom some of you may know as the TV writer and longtime Lisa de Moraes sidekick, who more recently has been helping Roxanne with The Reliable Source while I've been offdoingotherrandomstuff. At least I think she's joining us. Pending some technical difficulties. . .

Don't tell my husband! Forget Thor--Loki is Da Bomb! And I just bought the first season of Wallender, which stars Kenneth Branagh, and TH plays one of his assistants with his natural blonde wavy hair. I still love Tyler Moore and Tyler Clippard, but there's room in my heart for all three of them.

A: Amy Argetsinger

He also played F. Scott Fitzgerald in "Midnight in Paris." . . . By the way, I appreciate the way you slip in a Tyler Clippard reference so that we know, "Oh, it's the Nats fan girl!"

So, whatshername is claiming that Levi whatever owes her $66,000 in child support. (First off, he would owe it to her child, not her). But, for a lone 4-year old child, that is an outrageously high amount of monthly support. And, that is assuming he has never made a single payment. I call bull.

A: Roxanne Roberts

That has to be a total of back payments owed, not monthy support. Wonder what happened to Bristol's TV money?

She is living in Switzerland, speaks fluent German, and is giving up her US citizenship. But I want to know what she sings at Oktoberfest. Is it "Take Me Home (Country Roads)", "Sweet Caroline", some other catchy tune, or all of the above?

A: Amy Argetsinger

Now that we're onto the German taste for rousing singalongs, I'm guessing they probably could turn "River Deep Mountain High" into an Oktoberfest touchstone.

If you could take a week vacation anywhere right now, what would be the first destination that comes to mind?

A: Roxanne Roberts

Trick question, because I'd be tempted by so many different options: A warm beach and good book, London or Paris for the food and culture, Vegas --- but I need sleep and I wouldn't get enough. Also depends who's paying.

You gotta love how that poster couldn't even bring herself to write Bristol Palin's name. The total amount over four years comes to a monthly payment of $1375, which probably includes statutory interest on the missed back payments. Hey, kids are expensive.

I do enjoy his incessant weirdness. Like that awesome rattle snake mug someone brought him a gift and he just kept it on his desk. He doesn't seem like he's trying too hard (i.e. Conan) and he's just naturally bizarre -- it's a gift.

Last week, we talked about marriages between political opposites; this week, we try to handle how two people with such vastly different political views can maintain a good friendship and even be around each other with loaded weapons! Let the questions of "how can he/she tolerate her/him?" begin!

Anyone, thanks to whomever gave me license to start spending work hours browsing through vintage music videos. One of the nice parts of my job. Every now and then I like to do things nice. But we never do anything nice and easy. You see? Because we like to do it nice and rough.

Am I reading the Donaldson story correctly, that he hasn't denied (or admitted) being drunk while driving?

A: Roxanne Roberts

Never got to that point in the court case -- the judge ruled the officer has reason to pull him over because his was partially driving on the shoulder. But there were so many errors and omissions in the incident report that the case was dismissed based on that. Never got to the question of his breathalizer results. And Sam's not addressing the question.

How...how...how could a that have been an accident?? WHY would he padlock himself in a duffel bag on purpose if he was all alone? I am no conspiracy theorist, but it smells awfully fishy.

A: Amy Argetsinger

Oh, you think? Read the story; they're thinking this might have been some kind of solo sex game, working out some kind of clautrophilia. Or maybe that's just WHAT THEY WANT US to think. Either way: Don't try it, okay?

I wrote in last week about how awesome it is. Well, I am even learning about our fair city. Did you know there is a East Farragut Metro Station?

A: Emily Yahr

That is good to know! I'm assuming it's right next to the giant park that "Homeland" tried to make us believe was Farragut Square. Also, I'm glad "Blacklist" is doing well, because its timeslot rival "Hostages" is just so boring.

I was watching last week's episode and I am starting to think they might not actually film that show in Washington.

A: Amy Argetsinger

Based on what this time? They should just go more the route of "Scandal" and not even pretend to have any relationship to Washington. "Homeland" trips itself up by trying too hard, namedropping "Ivy City" or "Truxton Circle" -- you know, places that actually exist here, but which don't get namedropped that way -- or suddenly trying to tell us that Carrie's Fairlington-ish suburban apartment is in "Adams Morgan." It's too bad, because otherwise, the Charlotte suburbs do a perfectly good job of resembling the D.C. suburbs. . . What snapped me out of last week's episode was the revelation that a key scene had happened in "Bethesda," and I was like, "Nuh-huh! That I-270 exit number you gave was more like Clarksburg than Bethesda!" And then I thought, I need to get a life.

Aaaaah, there's a long tradition of Hollywood messing up DC geography. (Probably other cities too, I bet.) You really can't get mad about it; you just have to turn it into a drinking game. "Hey, that's Gaithersburg, not Anacostia! DRINK!"

A: Emily Yahr

I actually really liked when all the reality shows were in D.C. and we got to see real-life places being hyped up -- like this really exciting restaurant that the "Real World D.C." cast went to was...the Buca di Beppo near Dupont. And they spent every night at Tom Tom.

Seeing If/Then -- and she was looking at her phone most of the time, which was incredibly rude and annoying. And I'm on her side! I didn't know it was Pelosi until I saw the item yesterday, but saw security come whisk them away during the curtain call. There were other, just as rude, "glows" in the dark as people checked their phones (really? you can't live without it until intermission or until the end of the show?) Could have been Mr. Pelosi, but the glow from that row was constant. I'm sure if we had declared war on someone, the Secret Service agent could have tapped her on the arm and let her know. If you can't enjoy live theatre (VIP or not) without your phone, then please, do the rest of us a favor and stay home.

Television has had a blissfully optimistic view of Washington, DC traffic and location since The X-Files. Mulder was able to commute between his apartment in Alexandria and FBI HQ in about 10 minutes. I always thought that was the most unbelievable part of the show, never mind the aliens.

A: Roxanne Roberts

It's the fantasy segments of EVERY show and movie based in D.C. Crazy that they never get it right.

Is that near the outdoor metal detectors across the street from the White House that Kerry Washington is waved through on her way to stop in on the president in Scandal?

A: Emily Yahr

Oh, most definitely. Speaking of fake D.C. geography, I'm still mad at the person who ruined "The American President" for me by pointing out that the adorable "stuck in Dupont Circle" banter didn't make any sense considering Sydney was headed to Capitol Hill.

I keep hoping for a crossover episode where Olivia ends up on Homeland of Carrie on Scandal, you know the way that Ross from Friends would end up on Mad About You or Magnum PI showed up in an episode of Simon and Simon.

A: Amy Argetsinger

That would be amazing. It's not like "Homeland" is that much more realistic than "Scandal" these days. And maybe Carrie could borrow one of Olivia's pretty trench coats. Meanwhile, anyone else have thesequestions about this season of "Homeland"?

His being friends with justices who are on the left is nothing new. He and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are very close. Their families vacation together, attend the opera, spend new year's eve together, etc. He and his wife have been reportedly very helpful since Justice Ginsburg's husband's death. They are just people, after all.

A: Roxanne Roberts

I applaud the maturity it takes to disagree intellectually and still respect each other as colleagues.

I had just read a troubling news item this morning that Paramount is developing a TV show based on the Swayze/Demi Moore classic Ghost. This was Swayze here. Is nothing sacred? It there anybody alive who can step into the Swayze shoes?

A: Amy Argetsinger

Oh, hell, why not? I suggest they go with Josh Lucas, the go-to guy for being the TV version of the movie guy. Anyone else have any better ideas?

If you want a Tina Turner song that was more popular in Europe than the US, and that would sound best with an accordion and a tuba, I think the choice is clearly "River Deep Mountain High." Or, as they would call it over there, "Fluss tief, berg hoch."

A: Amy Argetsinger

I've just spent way too much time looking for a YouTube version of "Fuss tief, berg hoch."

NCIS ischock full of geography boners. Last night they went "over" to Quantico from DC in about 15 minutes and apparently the Falls Church police have worldwide arrest powers. Did you know there's a Chevy Chase Village in Falls Church?

Criminal Minds is another one that always gets me... if they are working out of the FBI at Quantico, why do they all live in DC? And one time they flew their jet from DC to Baltimore. i guess that's possible, just not very realistic.

A: Amy Argetsinger

Would certainly help you make it there in 15 minutes during rush hour, though.

They kind of care... at least with certain flubs, because back when I was a kid, my parents (both Navy officers) would receive rough cuts of JAG and were asked to point out errors in uniforms, protocols, etc.

A: Roxanne Roberts

I think that's true, but these trafffic bits are always wrong to preserve the drama of the stories. Can't race to save someone in a traffic jam.

A standard military-style duffle bag (no zippers) has a link and a grommet on the outside for a padlock. I can't even visualize how you could lock yourself inside. Are there any pictures of how this is supposed to have happened?

A: Amy Argetsinger

I'm sure you could try to Google something, but maybe wait til you get home.

I just don't understand how somebody with no diplomatic experience can be made ambassador to a major ally like Japan. Does she even speak Japanese? I know that both parties do this to reward major fund-raisers, but it would seem to belittle the country itself. Wouldn't a major trade partner and world power want somebody with more experience and little more diplomatic heft? Or is the theory that career foreign service diplomats do all the heavy lifting and the ambassador is just a pretty face (male or female)?

A: Roxanne Roberts

Non-career types get named to major countries all the time. Part of the theory is that these people are actually close enough to call the president and have him pick up, and part is that the staff in these embassies are the ones who have the working knowlege on important issues and will advise/brief the ambassador.

Last night I saw Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams guest star on a Nickelodeon show, "Sam and Kat." At first I was happy they were alive and working. Then I got a closer look and I am reconsidering that thought.

A: Amy Argetsinger

Yikes, what are you saying -- that you wish they were dead? Or that they were barely working?

Magnum did indeed appear on an episode of Simon and Simon. You may recall that since the shows ran back to back, there was a two-part crossover in October 1982 that started with Magnum at 8 and finished with Simon & Simon at 9. So they both appeared on the other's show.

And, Japan in particularly, expects a "name" ambassador as a matter of protocol. These embassy's aren't po-dunk operations and there are plenty of people around who do the heavy lifting. An ambassador of a country like this is as much as social ambassador as a diplomatic ambassador.

Can we talk about SofA and Jax? I just started watching the series on Netflix (thought it was on a couple of seasons - had no idea it has been on since 2008!) Oh that Charlie Hunnam/Jax is a brooding hottie.

A: Emily Yahr

Would you have taken him more or less seriously if he had stayed Christian Grey in the '50 Shades' movie? Speaking of which, here's the guy they found the replace him, pictured with Dakota Johnson for the first time.

I didn't know about the stage show. How did they handle the scene where Demi is getting physical with her boyfriend Patrick Swayze, who is inhabiting the body of Whoopi Goldberg? That scene killed any romance the movie had for me. Also, what is the scoop on Elizabeth Vargas? Usually checking into rehab is preceded by some well publicized embarrassing incident.

No more scoop on Elizabeth Vargas. I think some celebrities are perfectly capable of realizing on their own that they have a problem to work on, without agents or the Los Angeles court system or Harvey Levin getting involved. Philip Seymour Hoffman did a similar quiet trip to rehab this year that he didn't acknowledge until he was out.

NCIS is also guilty of using "the" in reference to highway numbers. I live in Chesterfield, VA and laughed out loud at the references to "the 288." Also at the place they claimed were alongside it, none of which looked like anything within 3,000 miles. As to the Pelosi complainer -- maybe if you'd kept your eyes on the show, instead of the cell phone glow, you wouldn't have been nearly as annoyed. MYOB. Works wonders, my mother swears it does.